By Vicki Rock
Daily American Staff Writer
Friday, January 25, 2008
Lunch with 18 3- and 4-year-olds is amusing and informative. It just isn’t quiet.
People who attended the governor’s speech at a luncheon Jan. 11 held by the Somerset County Early Learning Advisory Group were given coupons for a free lunch at a Community Action Partnership for Somerset County/Early Childhood Education program.
Roger Vogel and I were the first to accept the offer. We went to the Head Start center in the Brant Building in Somerset. Tina Bowser is the lead teacher at that center and Melanie Belcher is the teacher.
“The reason behind it is the Early Learning Advisory Group was talking about quality preschool programs,” said Linda McDonough, director of Somerset County Head Start. “We realized that people who don’t usually hang out with preschoolers don’t know what the program’s like. So we suggested they come for lunch. A lot of stuff goes on. It’s not a leisurely lunch, but there’s good conversation and good food.”